Russia statement - as it happened: Theresa May to expel 23 spies from UK in response to Salisbury poisoning attack
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Your support makes all the difference.Theresa May has said that 23 Russian spies will be expelled from the UK as a response to the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in Salisbury.
The move, which is the biggest expulsion in more than 30 years, has been described by the Russians as "unacceptable" and a "provocation".
The Prime Minister also confirmed that no UK dignitaries will attend the World Cup in Russia this year, and said a planned visit by Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov will be scrapped.
Ms May addressed MPs following Prime Minister’s Questions, after Russia failed to comply with the British government’s midnight demand for an explanation of the poisoning of the ex-spy.
She said Vladimir Putin had responded to her demand to explain the “reckless and despicable act” in Salisbury with “sarcasm, contempt and defiance”.
She concluded that that was "no alternative" other than the Russian state was responsible for the incident.
Jeremy Corbyn's spokesman responded to the news by saying Mr Corbyn does not yet believe he has seen enough evidence to point the finger of blame at the Russian state.
He also cast aspersions on the evidence that had been presented, raising Iraq as the reason to be suspicious over intelligence that is presented to the public.
The comments were met with several Labour MPs vocally disagreeing with Mr Corbyn tabling a motion to back Ms May's view that Russia was definitely culpable.
See below for all the updates
PMQs is about to begin - but all eyes are on Theresa May's statement on Russia due shortly after the session, around 1pm. She is expected to comment on potential sanctions to be imposed on Moscow after the Russian authorities failed to provide an explanation over the death of a former Russian spy.
May starts PMQs by offering her condolences to Prof Stephen Hawking's death, announced earlier this morning.
Corbyn is now up - he condemns the "vile" messages and substances sent to four Muslim MPs in recent days. He also offers he condolences to Stephen Hawking's family - "a passionate campaigner for the NHS".
He refers to a case over the weekend in which a man was denied access to cancer treatment, after paying taxes in the UK.
May says we now see more people surviving cancers - she doesn't appear to be aware of the case. Corbyn says "I suspect he is not alone in this."
May adds she looks forward to receiving the details of the case.
Corbyn asks why there wasn't a penny extra for the NHS yesterday in Philip Hammond's Spring Statement. May says it was announced in the Budget in autumn 2017.
May - predictably - refers to the NHS, in Wales, under a Labour administration. Corbyn says the PM should "get a grip" on the NHS.
On Hawking, the PM said: "I'm sure members across the House will wish to join me in offering our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Professor Stephen Hawking, who died earlier today.
"Professor Hawking's exceptional contributions to science and our knowledge of the universe speak for themselves.
"As his children have said, his courage and persistence with his brilliance and humour inspired people across the world."
According to Reuters, the Russian ambassador to the UK has been summoned to the Foreign Office in the last few minutes.
May's statement on the situation will follow PMQs.
Labour MP Bridget Phillipson mentions an announcement by Facebook.
Earlier today the platform said it would take action against the far-right organisation Britain First.
Facebook said: "Content posted on the Britain First Facebook Page and the Pages of party leaders Paul Golding and Jayda Fransen has repeatedly broken our Community Standards. We recently gave the administrators of the Pages a written final warning, and they have continued to post content that violates our Community Standards. As a result, in accordance with our policies, we have now removed the official Britain First Facebook Page and the Pages of the two leaders with immediate effect. We do not do this lightly, but they have repeatedly posted content designed to incite animosity and hatred against minority groups, which disqualifies the Pages from our service."
Russia's ambassador Alexander Yakovenko has been summoned to the Foreign Office to be updated on measures to be announced by Prime Minister Theresa May.
Mr Yakovenko was in a meeting with a senior Foreign Office official immediately before the PM's statement to the House of Commons.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was in the House to hear the PM's statement.
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